A novel Z-scheme heterojunction Bi12O17Br2/TiO2 with exposed {001} facet nanoparticles for the degradation of tetracycline under visible light

• Published in: Materials today communications 2023-03, Vol.34, p.105187, Article 105187
• Main Authors: Yang, Tai, Chen, Jin, Yang, Xiaofeng, Yang, Lingfu, Liu, Xinwei, Liu, Zhikang, Zheng, Huiqi, Wang, Yueying, Li, Yanjun, Gao, Yunqin, Que, Meidan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bi12O17Br2; Photocatalyst; Tetracycline; TiO2; Z-scheme heterojunction
• ISSN: 2352-4928; 2352-4928
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.105187

The abuse of tetracycline and other drugs makes the water system accumulate with antibiotics and its metabolites, which generate threat to human life. Photocatalytic degradation was regarded as a crucial technology for the removal of antibiotic drug pollutants from water efficiently under visible light. In this study, a novel Z-scheme heterojunction was developed for tetracycline degradation and the mechanism was studied through preparing efficient photocatalyst Bi12O17Br2/(001)-TiO2. Unlike the traditional Z-scheme heterojunction, (001)-TiO2 acts as an electron syringe in this nanocomposite, promoting the special charge transfer and making the separation and transfer of electron hole pairs more efficient. At the same time, the stacking of layered structure increases the specific surface area than other bismush-based materials, which benefits the adsorption of pollutants and increases reactive active site. Results show that the degradation efficiency of BT5 catalyst for tetracycline solution could attain 99.76 % of TC in 50 min. Meanwhile, the BT5 catalyst still maintained a high degradation rate of 93.50 % after four cycles. This study suggested new design ideas for novel Z-scheme in antibiotic pollutant removal. [Display omitted] •The stacking of nanosheet increases the specific surface area of Bi12O17Br2/(001)-TiO2 from 12.5290 to 17.9484 m2·g-1.•A novel Z-scheme heterojunction was constructed between Bi12O17Br2 and (001)-TiO2.•The tetracycline degradation rate of Bi12O17Br2/(001)-TiO2 reached 99.76% under the visible light irradiation for 50 min.